Spool stand for sewing machines



y 193 1. F, F. ZEIER SPOOL STAND FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Jan. 21, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 May 1, 1934. ZElER 1,957,125

SPOOL STAND FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Jan. 21, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 1, 1934. ZEIER 1,957,125

SPOOL STAND FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Jan. 21, 1951 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented May 1, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE Frederick F. Zeier, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Union Special Machine Company, (Jhicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application January 21, 1931, Serial No. 510,293

6 Claims,

The invention relates to :new and useful improvements in spool stands nsed in connection with sewing machines or the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a spool stand consisting of few parts and which readily adapts itself for constructing a spool supporting stand on which various numbers of spools may be supported.

A further object of the invention is to provide a spool stand of the above type wherein the spools are supported with their axes vertical, and a thread guide is associated with each spool and located substantially in axial alinement therewith.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a spool stand of the above type wherein there are a plurality of thread guides located substan tially in axial alinement with each spool, and wherein said thread guides are disposed substantially at right angles to each other so that the thread passing from one guide to the other is led across the face of the bar containing the thread guides whereby to remove all kinks from the thread.

In the drawings which show by wayof illustration one embodiment of the invention1- Figure 1 is a side View of a spool stand containing the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same with parts broken away to show more clearly the structure of the spool supporting devices.

Fig. 3 is an end view of the stand with one of the spool supports sectioned.

Fig. 4 is a detail in side elevation showing a portion of the rod carrying the thread guides associated with one of the spools.

Fig. 5 is a sectional View of the same.

Fig. 6 is a view showing a slightly modified arrangement and means for supporting the spools.

The spool stand embodying the invention consists of supporting standards preferably set in alinement and carrying at their upper ends a bar which extends longitudinally of the stand. This 'bar is clamped to the standards at their upper ends and forms the supporting base bar for the spool stand. Mounted on this bar are a series of spool supporting plates. Each plate is cone-shaped in cross section so as to support the spool at the rim or periphery thereof. Centrally of the plate is a rod which holds the spool centered on the plate. These spool supporting plates are carried by projecting lugs or ears which are fastened to the supporting bar. These spool supporting plates are staggered relative to each other on opposite sides of the bar. Extending above the supporting bar are auxiliary standards each carrying laterally projecting arms. At the outer ends of these arms are rods which extend lengthwise of the spool stand and directly above the axes of the spools. There is of course a rod at each side of the center bar. These rods are 0 provided with thread guides. There is a pair of thread guides associated with each spool, and said thread guides are disposed axially of the spool but at right angles to each other.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the 5 improved spool stand includes standards 1, 1. As shown there are two standards. Each standard is provided with a supporting base 2 and with a supporting head 3 which is attached to the standard by a set screw 4. Attached to the heads is a bar 5 which extends the full length of the spool stand. Each bar 5 is bolted to the heads 3 by suitable bolts 6, 6.

At one side of the bar 5 is arranged a series of spool supporting plates '7, 7. Each spool supporting plate '7 is provided with projecting ears or lugs 8 and 9 by which they are secured to this supporting bar 5. At the other side of the supporting bar 5 is a series of spool supporting plates 10, 10, each of which is" also provided with lugs or ears 11 and 12. The lug l'l overlies the lug 9 on one of the spool supporting platesjwhile the lug 12 overlies the lug 8 on the next ad} jacent spool supporting plate. Bolts 13, 13 pass through the lugs or ears and firmly secure the same to the supporting plate 5.

Each spool supporting plate is cone-shaped as indicated at lfi, and disposed at the apex of the cone-shaped plate is a spindle 15. A portion of a spool 'is indicated in broken lines at 16 in Figure 3 of the drawings. It will be noted that I the periphery or rim 17 of the spool only makes contact with the upper con'e face of' the supporting plate. When'the plate is thus shaped the spool will be supported at its periphery, and this insures that the spool stands still while the thread is unwound therefrom.

Mounted on the supporting bar 5 at each end thereof are axial standards 18, 18. Each standard carries laterally projecting cross arms 20 and 21. These cross arms are mounted in a sleeve head 22 attachedito the upper end of the auxiliary standard 18. On the outer ends of the arms 21 is a thread guide rod 23. This rod is mounted in split sleeves 24 attached to the outer ends of the arms and clamped in place by nuts 25. The rod 23 is directly over the spindles 15 carried by the spool supporting plates 7. Carried at the outer ends of the arms 20 is a thread guide rod 26, which is likewise mounted in split sleeves 27 clamped to the ends of the rods by suitable nuts 28. This rod 26 is directly over the spindles 15 of the spool supporting plates 10. Each rod is provided with a thread guiding passage 29. This thread guiding passage is preferably substantially in axial alinement with the spool and is directly above the spool. The thread is passed from the spool through this guiding passage 29. Closely associated with the thread guiding passage 29 is a thread guiding passage 30, which extends horizontally through the rod and is therefore substantially at right angles to the thread guiding passage 29. These thread guiding passages will be referred to hereinafter as thread guides. By placing these passages for the thread substantially at right angles to each other the thread is led from the vertical passage around the curved face of the rod and into and through the horizontal passage. The thread is indicated in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings at 31. This sharp bending of the thread over the face of the rod takes all kinks out of the thread as it is drawn from the spool through these thread guides. The spools are placed on the spindles with their axes vertical and the thread from each spool runs through its associated guides directly above the same and from thence to thread guides of the sewing machine.

As shown in the drawings there are seven spool supporting plates. By lengthening the supporting bar 5 the number of plates may be multiplied almost without limit, and therefore the spool stand is especially adapted for construction so that various numbers of spools may be mounted thereon. The spool supporting plates are all of a similar character, and all that is necessary is to add more plates to the supporting bar. The rods carrying the thread guides will of course have to also be extended so as to provide thread guides for each spool. It will be noted that the ears or lugs on the spool supporting plates are all the same distance apart, and that the distance between the openings in the lugs through which the screws are passed, is slightly greater than the radius of the spool supporting plate. This enables the lugs on the plate at one side of the bar to overlie a lug on each of two adjacent plates on the other side of the bar, and the same fastening means be utilized for securing the plates to the bar without causing the plates to contact with each other. Furthermore, this placing of the centers of the openings in the ears or lugs a like distance apart on each of the supporting plates makes said plates interchangeable.

While the spool supporting plates have been shown as attached to a bar mounted on two spaced standards, it will be understood that these supporting plates may be otherwise mounted on a supporting member or members Without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. While a spool stand has been referred to throughout the de scription it will be understood that cops may be used instead of spools.

In Figure 6 of the drawings the spool supporting plates are indicated at 31 and 32. These plates are similar in construction to the ones above referred to, and each has a center spindle 15 which supports and guides the spool. Each plate also is provided with two spaced lugs 31 31 and 32 32 respectively. In this form of the invention the two supporting plates are mounted on a single supporting standard, at the upper end of which is a collar carrying a bar 33. The lugs overlie each other and are secured to this bar by means of screws 34, 34. Each support extends above the plates as in the oth r figures and carries a sleeve 35 at the upper end thereof in which is mounted a rod 36 having thread guides 37 and 38 for guiding and directing the thread from the spools.

It is obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and the arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:-

l. A spool stand for sewing machines comprising spaced standards, a supporting bar mounted at the upper ends thereof, a series of spool supporting plates located at each side of said bar, said plates being secured to said bar and projecting laterally therefrom, a spool spindle disposed centrally of each plate, said spindles at each side of said bar being disposed in a vertical plane parallel to said bar, a rod disposed above each series of spindles and having two thread guiding passages therethrough at an angle to each other directly above each spindle, and means for supporting the rods on said standard.

2. A spool stand for sewing machines comprising spaced standards, a supporting bar mounted at the upper ends thereof, a series of spool supporting plates located at each side of said bar, said plates being secured to said bar and projecting laterally therefrom, a spool spindle disposed centrally of each plate, said spindles at each side of said bar being disposed in a vertical plane parallel to said bar, an auxiliary standard at each end of said bar, cross arms carried thereby, and a rod disposed above each series of spindles and mounted at the outer end of said cross arms, each rod having thread guiding passages therethrough at an angle to each other.

3. A spool stand for sewing machines comprising spaced standards, a supporting bar mounted at the upper ends thereof, a series of spool supporting plates located at each side of said bar, each plate having a pair of spaced projecting ears adapted to be secured to said bar whereby said plates are supported by the bar, said plates at opposite sides of the bar being staggered with the supporting ears of the plates on opposite sides of the bar overlapping a spool spindle disposed centrally of each plate, an auxiliary standard at each end of said bar, and rods carried thereby and having a thread guiding passage therethrough disposed directly above each spindle.

l. A spool stand for sewing machines comprising a support, a spool supporting plate having a spindle fixed thereto centrally thereof for locating and guiding the spool, said plate having a pair of projecting perforated lugs at the periphery thereof, means passing through said lugs for securing the plate to said support, a rod carried by said support and overhanging the supporting plate for the spool and having a thread guiding eye substantially in axial alinement with said spindle.

5. A spool stand for sewing machines comprising a support, a series of spool supporting plates, each having a spindle fixed thereto centrally thereof for locating and guiding the spool, each plate having a pair of projecting perforated lugs at the periphery thereof, means passing through said lugs for securing the plates to said support,

the perforations in said lugs of the spool supsaid lugs for securing the plates to said support, the perforations in said lugs of the spool supporting plates being equally spaced and separated by a distance slightly greater than the radius of the spool supporting plate whereby said plates are interchangeable.

FREDERICK F. ZEIER. 

